31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold , we are going up to Jerusalem , and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished . 32 " For He will be handed over to the Gentiles , and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, 33 and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again ." 34 But the disciples understood none of these things , and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said .
35 As Jesus was approaching Jericho , a blind man was sitting by the road begging . 36 Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. 37 They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he called out, saying , "Jesus , Son of David , have mercy on me!" 39 Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet ; but he kept crying out all the more , " Son of David , have mercy on me!" 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near , He questioned him, 41 "What do you want Me to do for you?" And he said , "Lord , I want to regain my sight !" 42 And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight ; your faith has made you well ." 43 Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God ; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 18:31-43
Commentary on Luke 18:31-34
(Read Luke 18:31-34)
The Spirit of Christ, in the Old Testament prophets, testified beforehand his sufferings, and the glory that should follow, 1 Peter 1:11. The disciples' prejudices were so strong, that they would not understand these things literally. They were so intent upon the prophecies which spake of Christ's glory, that they overlooked those which spake of his sufferings. People run into mistakes, because they read their Bibles by halves, and are only for the smooth things. We are as backward to learn the proper lessons from the sufferings, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ, as the disciples were to what he told them as to those events; and for the same reason; self-love, and a desire of worldly objects, close our understandings.
Commentary on Luke 18:35-43
(Read Luke 18:35-43)
This poor blind man sat by the wayside, begging. He was not only blind, but poor, the fitter emblem of the world of mankind which Christ came to heal and save. The prayer of faith, guided by Christ's encouraging promises, and grounded on them, shall not be in vain. The grace of Christ ought to be thankfully acknowledged, to the glory of God. It is for the glory of God if we follow Jesus, as those will do whose eyes are opened. We must praise God for his mercies to others, as well as for mercies to ourselves. Would we rightly understand these things, we must come to Christ, like the blind man, earnestly beseeching him to open our eyes, and to show us clearly the excellence of his precepts, and the value of his salvation.